The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2021
- Class:
- 2004
An All-American in both of his seasons at Texas, Howell helped the Longhorns to a third-place national finish in 2003 and runner-up status in 2004 as one of the most prodigious strikeout pitchers in school history. The lefty from Modesto, Calif., stuck out 271 batters in two years while accumulating a 25-4 record, earning first team All-America and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors in 2004. After transferring from Southern California following the 2002 campaign, Howell led the 2003 Longhorns with 10 wins, 114.1 innings pitched, 19 starts and 105 strikeouts while holding a 2.52 ERA. That year, Texas went 50-20, won the Big 12 Tournament and went on to a third-place finish at the College World Series. A year later, Howell led the team in wins (15), innings pitched (135.1), complete games (four), ERA (2.13) and strikeouts (166). His 166 strikeouts rank as the fourth-most in a single season in school history, behind only Greg Swindell (204 in 1985, 180 in 1986) and Kirk Dressendorfer (176 in 1989), and his 15 wins are tied for the ninth-most in school annals. Howell’s pitching helped Texas to a 58-15 record and an appearance in the CWS Championship Series. In addition to being named first-team All-American and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, he was the Central Texas Pitcher of the Year in 2004, and amongst a loaded pitching staff was Team MVP in both of his seasons. Selected in the first round of the 2004 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals, Howell went on to a long and successful 12-year MLB career. He broke into the big leagues on June 11, 2005, starting 15 games for the Royals that season. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2006 season where he spent two more years as a starter before converting to a reliever in 2008. Howell found great success in that role, going 6-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 64 appearances and helping the Rays reach the World Series. The following year, Howell served as the closer and recorded a career-high 17 saves. Howell pitched two more years for the Rays before he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. In 67 appearances in his first season with the Dodgers, he posted a career-low 2.03 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, helping lead LA to the National League Championship Series. He went on to post a sub-3.00 ERA for the fourth time in his career in 2014, with a 2.39 mark in 68 appearances, as the Dodgers again got back to the postseason. Howell produced two more successful seasons as a reliever for the Dodgers, playing a part in two more postseason runs. Following four seasons with the Dodgers, he signed for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 and made 16 appearances. During his MLB career, Howell has a 3.83 ERA and 566 strikeouts in 619.2 innings pitched.
